Since the lockout began months ago, our attention has been divided. Lockout, prospects, WJs, Barons, Oil Kings, Nail in Russia–I think we kept ourselves amused as well as could be expected. Now that the clouds have lifted and the sun is out, lets have another look at your Edmonton Oilers.

Anticipation: I’m interested in Krueger’s forward “pairings” and am hopeful he keeps Nuge-Ebs and Gagner-Hall together. Hemsky might fit in well on the Gagner line, and maybe Hartikainen could do some good things with the Burnaby kid and #14. That leaves Horcoff for Yakupov, with Ryan Smyth possibly helping out too. This would leave a veteran 4line of Eric Belanger, Ryan Jones and some combination of Ben Eager, Lennart Petrell and Darcy Hordichuk.

The BLUE IS BAD: Coach Krueger mentioned the blue in his recent talk with Jason Gregor and Kevin Lowe talked about adding a defenseman when the lockout ends to replace Andy Sutton. Both items are music! The friggin’ in the riggin’ for this edition of the Oiler defense is that Ryan Whitney’s health is still up in the air. If he’s fine, then this team has some nice things happening. Krueger’s comments in the Gregor piece suggested that the left side might be Smid, Schultz the elder and Whitney, with the RH side Petry, Schultz the younger and then you find a role for Corey Potter and Theo Peckham or Steve Tambellini acquires a Sutton replacement. When it comes to defense, 7 NHL D is a moving target due to injuries–the Oilers seem to order a double helping every season.

GOAL: I’m hoping they run Devan Dubnyk out there early and often. He’s the future for the organization, and if he isn’t better that average better to find out now than later. Nikolai Khabibulin will be 40 in mid-January, and surely to God there’s no question about re-signing him in time to suffer through another round of injuries. I suspect Yann Danis is a factor as we speculated last summer.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Line1: Gagner-Hall-Hemsky (tough assignments)

Line2: Nuge-Hartikainen-Eberle (soft parade)

Line3: Horcoff-Smyth-Yakupov (mentor line for the latest phenom)

Line4: Belanger-Eager-Jones (experienced 4line)

Petrell-Hordichuk (extras)

Pairing1: Smid-Petry

Pairing2: N Schultz-J Schultz

Pairing3: Whitney-Potter

Peckham (extra)

G1: Dubnyk

G2: Khabibulin or Danis

The addition of an NHL defenseman is vital to this team’s hope for a playoff spot. Vital. You can see the forward depth developing–if Harski can grab a 2line job that allows the club to put Yakupov on the 3line and have 2 mentors in Horcoff and Smyth.

Odd men out: Paajarvi up front, but that’s a guess and any injury up front would mean he’s the first recall. I think Teubert is the obvious choice for recall among the D, although Fedun has done some nice things this fall and winter. I think Danis makes the team.

PROJECTED TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

G Devan Dubnyk

G Yann Danis

G Nikolai Khabibulin (IR)

D Ladislav Smid

D Jeff Petry

D Nick Schultz

D Justin Schultz

D Ryan Whitney

D Corey Potter

D Theo Peckham

D Andy Sutton (IR)

D Colten Teubert

D Taylor Fedun

D David Musil

C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

C Sam Gagner

C Shawn Horcoff

C Eric Belanger

C Chris VandeVelde

C Anton Lander

L Taylor Hall

L Teemu Hartikainen

L Ryan Smyth

L Ben Eager

L Darcy Hordichuk

R Ales Hemsky

R Jordan Eberle

R Nail Yakupov

R Ryan Jones

R Lennart Petrell

W Magnus Paajarvi

More as we go, GDT for OKC game about noon.

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– When does the “wow” deal that Stauffer predicted happen?
– Will the Oilers address the defense, finally?
– How will Edmonton utilize their two compliance buyouts? Maybe do they trade for an overpriced player from a “budget” team to use one of those slots, picking up an extra asset in the process?
– Will the NHL realign into a four division format? Does that mean contraction or expansion by two teams?
– Further to the previous, will a four division format and unbalanced schedule lend itself to a playoff format where the top four teams in four divisions make the playoffs? If the schedule is unbalanced towards divisional games, wouldn’t this make sense?
– Will the NHL finally come up with a more logical system for awarding points for wins, where an OT game doesn’t have 50% more impact on the standings? 3 for a regulation win, 2 for an OT/SO win, 1 for an OT/SO loss, 0 for a regulation loss? Or perhaps 2 for a regulation win, 1 for a win in extra time of any sort, and 0 for any kind of loss? Something that makes more sense would be nice…..

Do you think there’s a chance Arcobello or Plante get invited to the camp? Will there be any consideration for completing depleting OKC for a few games? Would they bring a guy like Deck up for a couple of days at the beginning to get a look at him? I think they normally have a handful of camp invites like that, but since it’s a weird year, I’m not sure what to expect.

H Bomb: Agree, hockey is back and we can get away from the mind numbing lockout chatter and arguing over the value of 5th rd picks.

1. I think they go get a D with an expiring contract–a Streit–and
2. end up dealing for Bouwmeester in the summer.
3. Horcoff, not that creative it wouldn’t occur to them. Maybe MacT
4. No. Again, this is too creative.
5. Great idea. Won’t happen. Why? Great idea.
6. Hahahahaahaa. Good one.

I’m good to go with the new Oilers…because they either quickly get it together and become that second dynasty I think they can be, or else they’ll shit the bed, fuck up, regress, and I’ll do the same thing I did after the Messier “trade” – stop watching hockey altogether.

I am not one of the hard line guys who say they will never follow the NHL again. This is my personel protest. I won’t go to a live game or buy any merchandise. I will watch on tv at home or support local pubs. I won’t pay ridiculous ticket prices, $20 to park, $10 beers and shitty food. I’m not asking you not to follow, I’m asking you not to go.

Woodguy:HBomb,
Someone trading a player that needs to be bought out implies that the team had 3 players they wanted to buy out.

What teams do you see having 3 guys who need to get whacked?

Not necessarily, there could be a team that has one player to buy out but would prefer to save the actual cash, and trade that player and some hockey talent, draft picks, etc instead of spending the actual money, to a team that is happy to spend the money buying a player out provided they receive enough hockey talent in return to offset the financial cost.

Basically, buying talent/draft picks, which generally isn’t allowed but may be here.

speeds: Not necessarily, there could be a team that has one player to buy out but would prefer to save the actual cash, and trade that player and some hockey talent, draft picks, etc instead of spending the actual money, to a team that is happy to spend the money buying a player out provided they receive enough hockey talent in return to offset the financial cost.

Basically, buying talent/draft picks, which generally isn’t allowed but may be here.

speeds: Not necessarily, there could be a team that has one player to buy out but would prefer to save the actual cash, and trade that player and some hockey talent, draft picks, etc instead of spending the actual money, to a team that is happy to spend the money buying a player out provided they receive enough hockey talent in return to offset the financial cost.

Basically, buying talent/draft picks, which generally isn’t allowed but may be here.

The problem is the same as you raised with Horcoff. Most players with big contracts have movement restrictions.

The nice thing is, the Schultz signing indicates other players’ views of Edmonton as a destination is trending upwards.

Speeds, Sportsnet’s cycled morning news just reported the 50% rule as every year as you had originally thought.

1. If there are amnesty buyouts in the deal, I think it’s premature to slot Horcoff into the lineup. I love the guy, but I don’t see how they keep him around, especially if (as I gather) his cap hit’s going to remain $5.5 million with a lower cap. I also assume, but don’t know, that there would be a rule precluding us from re-signing him after buying him out.

2. On that note, do we know that using an amnesty buyout on a player you trade for is allowed? My hunch is that it would be precluded in the CBA, which would be bad news for the Oilers, since they’re really only got Horcoff.

3. Any overpaid but effective veteran defencemen from around the league likely to find themselves suddenly without contracts and with burning desires to mentor Justin Schultz?

Thee only possibility I can think of off the top of my head is Lecavalier in TB, but as Spoiler notes, he has a NMC so he could theoretically block it. He may not though, if he and his agent calculated he could get more through a buyout plus new contract than from his contract alone.

Is there a team that would be willing to pay 35 mil to buy Lecavalier out? I don’t know, probably if they get enough talent back in the deal. Would TB be willing to move 35 mil worth of talent just to get rid of Lecavalier? Probably not.

There may also be some lesser salaried guys from smaller market teams where a big money team will gladly buy the player out for a mil or two to pick up a 2nd or 3rd round pick, I haven’t combed through the rosters to see who those guys might be.

Would not be shocked to see EDM sign Redden next summer after he’s bought out, he’s been rumored to EDM before. Although, who knows how much there ever was to that, nevermind who knows how EDM’s management and pro scouts see him now?

Would not be shocked to see EDM sign Redden next summer after he’s bought out, he’s been rumored to EDM before.Although, who knows how much there ever was to that, nevermind who knows how EDM’s management and pro scouts see him now?

I thought last I heard Redden was full value for his AHL roster spot, and it wasn’t just his contract that was putting him there.

I wouldn’t break up the top kid line, especially if that’s just to put Hartikainen in the top 6 where he obviously doesn’t yet belong.

Personally, I would’t mind seeing him stay in the AHL at least for the time being, and see what kind of player we have without an NHL star propping him up.

Besides, Yakupov has shown in the KHL and in international play that he’s good enough not to be saddled with Horcoff. IMO, Yakupov and Hemsky should definitely be playing together.

Again, if we’re playing a western conference only schedule, we need a player or two to make up a good checking line in order to make the playoffs. Maybe make the third line Smyth, Horcoff, Jones and bring in a good two-way RW to play with Belanger and Eager along with giving that 4th line more of the tougher minutes.

In a Western Conference schedule there will be few creampuff teams that we can just roll over with our offense.

“Steve Smith”:
1. If there are amnesty buyouts in the deal, I think it’s premature to slot Horcoff into the lineup.I love the guy, but I don’t see how they keep him around, especially if (as I gather) his cap hit’s going to remain $5.5 million with a lower cap.I also assume, but don’t know, that there would be a rule precluding us from re-signing him after buying him out.

2. On that note, do we know that using an amnesty buyout on a player you trade for is allowed?My hunch is that it would be precluded in the CBA, which would be bad news for the Oilers, since they’re really only got Horcoff.

3. Any overpaid but effective veteran defencemen from around the league likely to find themselves suddenly without contracts and with burning desires to mentor Justin Schultz?

4. Hockey.

2. I think this will turn about to be true. Kind of mirrors waiver rules.

3. Timonen, Streit, Vishnovsky all UFA this summer. They might be available at the deadline. I don’t think the Oil will go THAT old though. And seeing where Whitney is at is going to have some effect on the decision-making process. LT is right though, it’s something they really need to deal with as soon as possible.

Does anyone know if the exempt buyout is in effect now and this summer, or is it only this summer?

True, Paajarvi could be gone in a trade for a D…but I am amazed so many people are still drinking the Renney Kool-Aid on Paajarvi, and so many other players at the bottom end of the roster that Renney misused.

stevezie:
“Each team will be allowed two amnesty buyouts that can be used to terminate contracts after this season and next season. ” – TSN

So, if I’m reading this right, we will for sure have Horcoff for this season, and if we like him we can keep him for one more before buying him out? This is fantastic news (it’s nice to have options).

Particulary with respect to the expiry of Nugent-Hopkins’ ELC (question: does the new CBA change the rules on ELC deal cap hits?) and the Oilers lack of depth at centre (i.e. neither Belanger or Lander should be your 3C if you hope to be anything other than terrible), I do think Horcoff will be bought-out under the amnesty clause, but it happens after next season, not this one.

Of course, if they had another acquisition planned who could fill the role on the 3rd line properly (i.e. better than alternatives listed above) for a reasonable price, they might pull the trigger early, but that assumes they are able to sign a UFA or pick up another asset via trade. I do believe that Edmonton has improved in terms of being an attractive free agent destination. I do not believe that the time over the lockout to “evaluate” his strengths and weaknesses have made Steve Tambellini a better GM.

Have you seen any specific lottery details, at one point Bob MacKenzie was saying something about a team losing some of their balls in the lottery bin if they’d had previous #1 OV picks, but I wasn’t sure if that was referring to the new lottery setup, or the way things worked in the Crosby lottery last lockout?

spoiler: 2. I think this will turn about to be true. Kind of mirrors waiver rules.

3. Timonen, Streit, Vishnovsky all UFA this summer. They might be available at the deadline. I don’t think the Oil will go THAT old though. And seeing where Whitney is at is going to have some effect on the decision-making process.LT is right though, it’s something they really need to deal with as soon as possible.

Does anyone know if the exempt buyout is in effect now and this summer, or is it only this summer?

Godot; I don’t think its drinking kool-aid, but do believe Paajarvi is in tough to make the roster. They’ll want him to play, so replacing Hordichuk or Petrell won’t cut it. He might replace Jones but I think the smart bet is he doesn’t.

Best chance to make it? Injury. Second best chance? Outplay Hartikainen if he gets the chance.

I can’t really think of a better destination to play hockey than Edmonton. Play on a team with FIVE prospective superstars, pad your stats like crazy, then sign for your next team with a 100% pay increase.

Maybe it’s time to start acquiring washed up former greats to play on the 3rd and 4th lines, especially with Horcoff’s leadership one way or the other.

I sure hope the hell they keep Pajaarvi in the AHL for the season. Fuck up a prospect? Just let them play for a 30th place hockey team in a 30 team league – works like a charm.

Like I said…either they make the playoffs and make everyone happy, or else return in 9 months with Seth Jones hahahahahahahaha

I am thrilled, mostly because I think RNH, Yakupov, Hall, Eberle, Shultz and Krueger are going to make this season exciting. There are questions around what Smyth, Hemsky, Horcoff, Whitney, and Dubnyk will bring, but it’s the start of the season and there are reasons to be optimistic.

Well crud. From a purely selfish standpoint, this end of lockout news is a bummer: Moscow has been the best city in the world to sit through the impasse (although I haven’t been able to see as many KHL games as I would have liked, for only disgraceful reasons).

LT is very consistent with his thoughtful and well argued reasonable expectations, but I’m different: my expectations are wholly unrealistic.

As such I expect the Oilers to make the playoffs, defeat the Flames so soundly during every encounter that by the end of the season Calgary quietly disbands, and for the kids to play so well that Tambellini spontaneously combusts in the overhead seats.

Anyone else already missing legal discussions about disclaimers of interests and post CBA contract legitimacy? I had ‘Successful NHL injunction against the NHLPA disclaimer in a NY court’ in my lockout pool so I am a little pissed off right now.

I don’t know which I am happier about, the NHL being back or real hockey conversation on this blog. All of the CBA negotiation talk was hitting a little too close home; being in law school and having my favorite diversion discussing the intricacies of labour law and collective bargaining was taking a toll on my sanity.

bookje:
I am thrilled, mostly because I think RNH, Yakupov, Hall,Eberle, Shultz and Krueger are going to make this season exciting.There are questions around what Smyth, Hemsky, Horcoff, Whitney, and Dubnyk will bring, but it’s the start of the season and there are reasons to be optimistic.

I think the short season will help the Oilers make the playoffs.

Lets go…

I think Smyth will be greatly aided by the shorter season, and Whitney has to have benefitted from the late start. Hemmer shooting more and scoring in Pardubice has helped his confidence. Doobie was stellar at the Spengler. I’m pretty hopeful about most of the question marks. But you’re right, tis the season for optimism.

And we are back. Well, maybe too much coffee and lack of sleep made them both think they got the best deal?

As for the Oil, TSN coverage (shockingly all morning non stop) made me smile. good to see actual news and anticipation.

A few Oil observations:
– Gagner played point on the PP in europe and had success. I expect him there with the Oil since there is no spot up front and we lack top end DMen.
– Reflecting on Friedman’s 30 thoughts this summer a(a bunch about the Oil) I expect Yakupov to play 3rd line withe the vets. Then he can be dropped to 4th in close games and Jones slides up to be a true checking line.
– Vet UFA dmen are in short supply. Chris Campoli and Colin White top list of solid Offensive and defensive dmen. I would like White on a 1 yr deal. He’s not flashy, but he is a solid 3rd pairing vet who will not hurt us (unlike Peckham and Potter). Play 4 forwards on the PP and we are good.

So welcome back hockey. Get your shit together quickly, Oil fly out of the gates, make playoffs then all is forgiven (sort of)

Not his real account at least. You may be kidding, but it is just too soon. Lets try for a day of positive people. Sky blue, flying elephants exist. No need to pollute the waters from the actual issues (which are many)

Yeah, I hope they just take the PP from OKC (which was awesome) and run it the same. No need to practice, they are in mid season form. Then you run the 2nd unit in a similar fashion (gotta hope Krueger had some input on what was done in the AHL so it translates).

Looking at some OKC PP highlites, look like they had someone in front (Harsky usually). So maybe it’s Horc or Smyth to take the faceoff then slide over.

If Harsky makes the team you can slide him in for Smyth or Horc (to save them for the PK). Whitney and Shultz will not see a ton of PK time (hopefully) so the vet dman we add better be a solid PKer (why I like Colin White the best of the UFA’s out there).

LT: That”s what happens when your designated point man is Patrick Thoresen.

Jk.

Over time seeing MTL always being N1 I learned a couple of things about the PP.

Notably that you’l always need a shot from the point to space the ice, but at the same time you’re usually better off having your 4th F to be a passer instead of a goalscorer. They understand movement better and are more used to handling the puck often. The key to a good PP is constant movement.

So the point man should be Nuge, Hemsky or Gagner, even if your first reflex is to put somebody who has a good shot.

If they go with 8 D — which they might — Eager goes on 4, Jones on 3, and Paajarvi to OKC. Although I don’t know anymore if it’s better for Paajarvi to spend more time in OKC or just learn 3rd line RW playing alongside vets.

Woodguy: The current system has teams “in the mix” for a playoff spot much later in the season than your proposal.
The NHL wants to have more “meaningful” games, not less

This is bullshit from a pure math/game theory perspective. From an “appearances” perspective it makes the races “look” closer, but it is way harder to make up ground. On (frequent) nights when your team gets a clear win, it makes up one point on a rival that lost another game in OT and nothing at all on the rival who won that game. A deficit of just a handful of points is virtually insurmountable down the stretch, no matter what sort of real winning streak you might put together.

Give a third point to teams that actually win games outright, and they can make up quite a bit of ground, whether other games are split 3-0 or 2-1 is more or less irrelevant. In the 2-1 split of the out of town OT game, you can make up points on BOTH teams. In the present scenario, that’s impossible.

Moreover, a third point for a regulation win adds a clear disincentive for a team to wait for OT to go for their second point, because that guaranteed point in the back will be offset by a guaranteed LOST point. Way, way, way better system, with checks and balances/ risks and rewards to ensure integrity of competition rather than nudge-nudge-wink-wink let’s wait ’til OT.

Bruce McCurdy: This is bullshit from a pure math/game theory perspective. From an “appearances” perspective it makes the races “look” closer, but it is way harder to make up ground. On (frequent) nights when your team gets a clear win, it makes up one point on a rival that lost another game in OT and nothing at all on the rival who won that game. A deficit of just a handful of points is virtually insurmountable down the stretch, no matter what sort of real winning streak you might put together.

Give a third point to teams that actually win games outright, and they can make up quite a bit of ground, whether other games are split 3-0 or 2-1 is more or less irrelevant. In the 2-1 split of the out of town OT game, you can make up points on BOTH teams. In the present scenario, that’s impossible.

Moreover, a third point for a regulation win adds a clear disincentive for a team to wait for OT to go for their second point, because that guaranteed point in the back will be offset by a guaranteed LOST point. Way, way, way better system, with checks and balances/ risks and rewards to ensure integrity of competition rather than nudge-nudge-wink-wink let’s wait ’til OT.

Bruce, I once took a couple of seasons and converted the points to both the old 2 point system (no Bettman point) and to a full 3-point per game system. It made surprisingly little difference (I think one team made the playoffs that would not have). Of course, that does not account for differences in strategy that would have occurred under the different scenarios.

oilersfan: He also said within the calendar year expect a very good player to come to Edmonton without giving up any of Hall, RNH, Eberle or Schultz. He didn’t say anything about not losing Hemsky or MP though.

Notice Yakupov is not on the ‘protected’ list.

OK, so what “very good” defenseman is coming back in a ‘wow’ trade that involves some combination of Yakupov/Hemsky/MPS/other?

Also, bullshit matters when it comes to fan perceptions. Many people don’t think about the math much and as a result fans in about 2/3 of the league can be excited that their team is ‘over 0.500’ with the current point system. As WG noted, it also make the playoff situation appear closer which is valuable if you are selling tickets. From a math point of view, I would love a 3-point system, but from a marketing point of view, the current system makes sense.

bookje: Of course, that does not account for differences in strategy that would have occurred under the different scenarios.

The great unknown. But the % of games that are tied after regulation has shot up through the Bettman Point era, each and every year. Call it “parity” if you like, but to me “game management” is the best fit. The whole thing is fucking bogus as far as I’m concerned. All the other sports have level playing fields, but hockey has this dog’s breakfast flim-flam made-up joke of a “system” that has turned competitive integrity into a steaming pile of horse droppings.

If 2/3 of the fans in the league are still excited about .500 as a benchmark when it has been menaningless for years, the fans in this league are a lot dumber than I give them credit for. But the leasue has been treating us all like dummies for years, maybe they know something.

The fans don’t rightly know what the benchmark is, because it’s a moving target. But the true benchmark is 8th place, not .500. If they went back to a balanced system, 8th place would be right around .500 and all would become clearer.

I don’t think this is news but that wow trade must have been Luongo one would guess. The TSN boys were talking about where he would end up. Mackenzie mentioned the Oilers had interest, but Luongo didn’t want to play in Edmonton, and he also mentioned Vancouver, on their side didn’t want him going to Edmonton, interesting enough.

Absolutely. The NHL operates along Catholic lines of “meaningful” procreation, as opposed to procreative acts with zest and imagination and spinning wowsas–but no delivery-room import. The league is most certainly content to keep us sitting on the edges of our expensive seats, tip-nipping steamy tubesocks plosive with lipids&assholes, washing down this agreeably sweaty confection of rubbery nubbins with overgassed swill, moaning with our eyes half closed in anticipation of a favoured outcome accruing to a favoured total, until the messenger stork flashes his badge and you go: “Who me? Was she pretty? Gosh, I don’t remember a thing. But we won, eh, in the shoot-out? Cool!”

With a 3-2-1-0 system with 3 points awarded for actually winning, there would be more guts and grace and glory on the ice in the inky darkness of February and fewer late-season scratch-and-win urine sticks piling up in the NHL coffers.

The Kelly McGonigal book I read recently explains that those experimental rats with electrodes in their pleasure center who kept pressing the level until they starved to death were mistakenly believed to be stimulating their pleasure centers. In truth–as science has since determined–they were stimulating a related neural center which governs the expectation of pleasure. Humans who have had the same region implanted also become fanatic about pressing the red button, but they don’t report any pleasure, just a tense and super-irritating and addictive expectation of pleasure that never arrives.

It’s actually the expectation of pleasure that triggers addictive behaviours, regardless of whether any pleasure results. This is why drug addicts keep taking drugs long after the drug no longer causes a high worth having. This is why we keep dialing the cute red-haired girl who never returns our calls and who is really out of our league anyway … if we even have a league.

If one manages to inadvertently enjoy oneself (or each other) as one goes about one’s meaningful and orthodox business (i.e. not by oneself and with no origami), I understand that the Catholic church doesn’t complain too much. Actually, out of curiosity I just looked up sex during pregnancy which (once known) severely shortens the mental odds of conception, one would think. The edict of the Catholic church seems to boil down to a single method of family planning: doing without. I visualize the Pearly Gates installing a miniature TSA body scanner. How big? Roughly the size of a bread box. You just dangle your very very very blue balls in there, a divine light forms an outline of a previously invisible door, and you waltz right in. How blue? Forty years blue. No queue for you. Only your waltz has a small hitch in your step as you cross through the light, and you feel like you’ve just had a pair of teeth removed from where you least expected wisdom, and you look back and there is Saint Peter with a long pair of tongs waving two small blue orbs freshly plucked–dense orbs of blue, deep deep blue, not the orbs themselves–and he is sternly and benignly warning the heavenly throng: “Everyone stand back! These are very blue!” and now you know why everyone standing in line has been issued a heavenly supplicant welder’s mask and quickly the masks go up in unison before Saint Peter squeezes the tongs and pops the twin walnuts of electric blueness with a blinding dazzle of the path forsaken. And this new sensation in your tender gums is the most amazing thing–your masculine tongue feels the outlines of the empty root sockets where the blue blue blue used to well and torment, and now there is joy–only joy–and purity–only joy and purity–and a blissful, eternal nothing itch.

In any case, my point is that “meaningful” and “joyful” are by no means synonymous, and if you focus too much on the former, you end up with less of the latter.

There’s actually a second dimension to this from the league perspective. Low scoring games (e.g. 2-2 ties) are more likely to keep viewers glued to the tube in the 3rd period. Three minute natural hat-tricks deliver too much pleasure in a short dose.

It’s also easier for the ugly step-sisters (the have-nots) to almost make the playoffs from the bottom of the salary bracket with five plumbers clogging the neutral zone shift after shift. They are so close to making the playoffs in the final week of the season, the pleasure center completely forgets it isn’t getting any. Isn’t the human brain an amazing organ?

Love the 3 points handed out every night system as it does not penalize offensive minded teams, but you’re right the owners will never give up on being only 2-3 points out in 12th place (even if 3 point wins can make up the imaginary extra ground).

So if were stuck on 2 points let’s really creative and make the point gaps even tighter:
– 2 points for a regulation or 10 minute overtime win.
– 1 point for a shootout win.
– 0 points for all losses.

Now there’s even fewer points handed out and even more reward for offense.

BTW, How was your Hemsky/Brown bet worded? I’m assuming you only get the 48 games? What’s the defecit to make up?

I agree there’s no way they could be shopping him, but if they get Godfathered? If they someone puts either a young franchise defenceman in play? Or If Montreal for some reason suggests Galenchyuk and Subban for Nail + ? We have to consider that don’t we?
I’m right there with you for not condemning Nail for an “only pretty good” juniors and summit series, but I don’t think he’s reached untouchable status yet.

Can we please stop talking about this “wow” trade like it was some kinda inside info leaked to Stauffer. He threw the obvious out there when there was nothing but cba to talk about.. all of a sudden the internet erupts like this was a new idea?

Any idiot following the Oilers knows they’ve been looking to real in a big fish since the Heatley drama.. It’s been about timing since then.. but everyone knows Katz intentions are to still bring in that great white shark.